In the past two months since early June 2026, there has been a series of personnel changes in the leadership of Shanghai. Deputy Mayor Chen Yujian was put under investigation, while Executive Deputy Mayor Wu Wei and Deputy Mayor Xie Dong were reassigned from their positions in Shanghai.
According to a post on the official WeChat account of China Overseas Chinese Federation, on the afternoon of August 6, 2026, Xie Dong, a candidate for vice chairman of the China Overseas Chinese Federation, visited the Chinese Overseas Chinese History Museum for research.
This information indicates that Shanghai Deputy Mayor Xie Dong has been appointed as a candidate for vice chairman of the China Overseas Chinese Federation.
Public records show that Xie Dong, born in February 1971 in Shanghai, graduated with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in English and American Literature from Fudan University. He started working in July 1995, and has held various positions within the Shanghai financial system, including Deputy Director of the Comprehensive Coordination Department of the Shanghai Financial Office and Director of the Liaison Service Department. Since 2014, he has served as Deputy Director of the Shanghai Financial Office and Deputy Director of the Shanghai Local Financial Regulatory Bureau, and in 2019 was promoted to Director of the Shanghai Local Financial Regulatory Bureau and the Municipal Financial Office. In 2022, he also became the chairman of the Shanghai Committee of the China Democratic National Construction Association and the vice chairman of the central committee.
In January 2023, Xie Dong was appointed as Deputy Mayor of Shanghai, mainly in charge of education, civil affairs, culture, tourism, sports, and overseas Chinese affairs.
Earlier, on June 25, 2026, the China Overseas Chinese Federation announced on its official website the obituary of its Vice Chairman and Party Committee member Lian Xiaomin, who passed away in Beijing on June 19, 2026 at the age of 58.
Official reports did not mention the cause of Lian Xiaomin’s death. However, there have been widespread rumors online suggesting that Lian Xiaomin committed suicide.
According to official Chinese Communist Party (CCP) information, the China Overseas Chinese Federation was established in Beijing in October 1956 (originally known as the “Yan’an Overseas Chinese Salvation Federation”) and is a unit of the CPPCC, belonging to the central government. The organization, under the guise of “people’s organizations” and “representing the interests of returned overseas Chinese and their families,” has become an important tool for the CCP to promote red infiltration overseas.
Ten days ago, on July 29, 2026, the Standing Committee of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Congress relieved Wu Wei of his position as Deputy Mayor of Shanghai. On July 27, the official announcement stated that Wu Wei would no longer hold the positions of Standing Committee Member and Committee Member of the Shanghai Municipal Party Committee.
According to information from the China Investment Limited Liability Company, on the afternoon of July 23, 2026, the person in charge of the cadre department of the CCP Central Organization Department announced at a cadre meeting of the China Investment Limited Liability Company that Wu Wei was appointed Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the China Investment Limited Liability Company.
Public records show that Wu Wei, born in August 1969 in Wuhan, Hubei Province, worked at the Bank of Communications for 21 years from 1998 to 2019. In July 2019, he was transferred from the Bank of Communications as Deputy Chief Financial Officer to Deputy Governor of Shanxi Province, and later served as a member of the Standing Committee of the Shanxi Provincial Committee, Minister of Propaganda, and Executive Vice Governor. In November 2024, he was transferred to the Standing Committee Member of the Shanghai Municipal Committee, Executive Deputy Mayor, and Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the Municipal Government. Since January 2025, he has held the positions of Standing Committee Member of the Shanghai Municipal Committee, Executive Deputy Mayor, Director of the Shanghai Free Trade Zone Management Committee, Director of the Municipal Party Committee Financial Office, and Secretary of the Municipal Finance Work Party Committee, etc.
About two months ago, on June 10, 2026, Shanghai Deputy Mayor Chen Yujian was reported to have been investigated.
Public information shows that Chen Yujian, born in February 1970 in Tancheng, Shandong Province, previously served as Director of the High-Tech Industry Division, Director of Fixed Asset Investment Department, and Deputy Chief Economist of the Shanghai Development and Reform Commission. In December 2011, he became Deputy District Head of Yangpu District, and then transferred to Deputy District Head of Songjiang District in May 2014. In August 2017, he was appointed District Head of Songjiang District. In January 2020, he became the District Head of Minhang District, and in December 2023, he became Deputy Mayor of Shanghai, promoted to the deputy ministerial level.
Currently, there are five deputy mayors in Shanghai, three fewer than at the beginning of the term. The current Mayor of Shanghai, Gong Zheng, was born in March 1960, making him 66 years old, surpassing the retirement age of 65 for officials at the ministerial level.
Since the beginning of 2026, Shanghai has issued a series of notices regarding the appointment and removal of bureau-level officials, including several changes in key positions within the Shanghai municipal government.
In March 2026, Liu Jian was appointed as Deputy Secretary-General of the Shanghai Municipal Government, and Gu Jun was removed from the position of Deputy Secretary-General of the Shanghai Municipal Government. Dong Jianhua was relieved of his position as Director of the Research Office of the Shanghai Municipal Government.
In May 2026, Jin Penghui and Ma Xiaohong were appointed as Deputy Secretary-Generals of the Shanghai Municipal Government, and Bi Guiping was appointed as Director of the Xinjiang Office of the Shanghai Municipal Government. Meng Qingyuan was relieved of his position as Director of the Xinjiang Office of the Shanghai Municipal Government.